What actually is this thing they call Kulam? For most
people, it is a type of negative magic that aims to control, injure, curse or do
baneful things to a person.

But Kulam is not just negative, it also has a positive
side. Kulam, as I define it, is a magical practice streaming from voodoo and
santeria practices. Kulam is Witchcraft, filipino style.

Now what are the basic tools or supplies of Kulam? A
Mangkukulam (a person practicing Kulam) uses candles, herbs, dolls and the like.

Now the following information is taken from folktales
which I heard from my Lola.

How does a person become a Mangkukulam? Well most are
hereditary, passed to them by their Mothers or Fathers. Usually it happens when
the mother or father is about to die. He or She passes her magickal powers to
her child.

Folks say that a Mangkukulam uses her powers to injure
others. She uses a black rag doll. Like Voodoo, she affixes a piece of hair from
her victim unto the doll. She sticks pins into it to hurt the victim.

But today Kulam has emerged into a different practice.
No longer do Mangkukulams use their power to hurt others but they use it for the
benefit of not only themselves but for the benefit of all.

One of the most popular book on this subject today is
Tony Perez's 'Mga Panibagong Kulam' (New Kulam).

Tony's book gives Kulams (spells) for almost any event.
There is one to Make a Thief admit his crime, A love Kulam, and many others.

I would really love to print in this site a Kulam from
the book but copyrights prohibit me from doing so. That's why Im just going to
print "traditional" information on Kulam